103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5475

 

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Camille Y. Lilly

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 947/65.125 new

    Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall award a nursing in correctional facilities scholarship to each qualified applicant in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees of the eligible institution at which the recipient is enrolled, with specified limits. Provides that scholarship recipients shall also receive a stipend, the amount which shall not exceed $10,000, to cover other costs of attendance, including but not limited to, reasonable living expenses. Sets forth provisions concerning eligibility, scholarship terms, the total amount of assistance, application for the program, repayment, compliance with State and Federal laws, a report, and rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2025.


LRB103 38479 RJT 68615 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5475LRB103 38479 RJT 68615 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this amendatory Act of
5the 103rd General Assembly is to address healthcare needs
6within the Department of Corrections by providing nursing
7scholarship assistance to eligible students in the State,
8subject to appropriation, and shall require a public service
9commitment agreement to work within the Department of
10Corrections for a specified duration. The Program shall be
11administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and
12with the guidance and assistance of the Department.
 
13    Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
14amended by adding Section 65.125 as follows:
 
15    (110 ILCS 947/65.125 new)
16    Sec. 65.125. Nursing in correctional facilities
17scholarship program.
18    (a) In this Section:
19    "Eligible institution" means a public community college, a
20private junior college, a hospital-based diploma in nursing
21program, or a public or private college or university with a
22pre-licensure nursing education program located in this State

 

 

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1that has received approval by the Department of Financial and
2Professional Regulation for an associate degree in nursing
3program, an associate degree in applied sciences in nursing
4program, a hospital-based diploma in nursing program, a
5baccalaureate degree in nursing program, a graduate degree in
6nursing program, or a certificate in a practical nursing
7program approved by the Board of Higher Education or any
8successor agency with similar authority. An eligible
9institution must maintain compliance with all applicable State
10and federal laws. An eligible institution is not necessarily
11eligible for other programs administered by the Commission and
12is not required to meet the definition of institution of
13higher learning, qualified institution, or institution as
14defined in Section 10 of this Act. The Commission may
15establish by rule additional requirements for an eligible
16institution.
17    "Department" means the Department of Corrections.
18    (b) Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall award a
19nursing in correctional facilities scholarship to each
20qualified applicant in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition
21and fees of the eligible institution at which the recipient is
22enrolled, up to the current maximum amount of tuition and fees
23charged to students enrolled in an eligible institution,
24except that a recipient enrolled in a non-public institution
25may not receive an award of more than the current maximum
26amount of tuition and fees charged to students enrolled in an

 

 

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1eligible institution at a public university. Scholarship
2recipients shall also receive a stipend, the amount which
3shall not exceed $10,000, to cover other costs of attendance,
4including, but not limited to, reasonable living expenses.
5Stipend amounts for recipients enrolled on less than a
6full-time basis shall be prorated by credit hour.
7    (c) The Commission shall, on an annual basis, receive and
8consider applications for scholarship assistance under the
9program. An applicant is eligible for a scholarship under the
10program if the Commission finds that the applicant meets the
11following criteria:
12        (1) Is a resident of Illinois.
13        (2) Is enrolled in an eligible institution in the
14    State on at least a part-time basis.
15        (3) Expressed a commitment to work as a nurse in the
16    Department of Corrections for a minimum of 3 years.
17    Scholarship recipients shall be selected from among
18eligible applicants based on a combination of academic
19excellence and financial need, as determined by the
20commission. Preference may be given to previous recipients of
21a scholarship under the program, provided that the recipient
22continues to meet the eligibility requirements set forth in
23this Section and maintains satisfactory academic progress as
24determined by the institution of higher education at which the
25recipient is enrolled.
26    (d) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for an

 

 

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1academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under
2the program must sign a public service commitment agreement
3pledging that, within the one-year period following the
4termination of the academic program for which the recipient
5was awarded a scholarship, the recipient shall:
6        (1) begin working as a nurse in the Department for a
7    period of not less than 3 years; and
8        (2) upon request of the Commission and subject to
9    confirmation with the Department, provide the Commission
10    with evidence that the recipient is fulfilling or has
11    fulfilled the terms of the public service agreement
12    required under this subsection (d).
13    (e) A recipient may receive scholarship assistance under
14the program for the equivalent of 8 semesters or 16 quarters of
15full-time enrollment.
16    (f) The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by
17the Commission under the program to an individual in any given
18fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance awarded
19to that individual for that year, may not exceed the cost of
20attendance at the eligible institution at which the student is
21enrolled.
22    (g) All applications for a scholarship under the program
23shall be made to the Commission in a form and manner prescribed
24by the Commission. An applicant shall also submit any
25supporting documents deemed necessary by the Commission at the
26time of application.

 

 

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1    (h) All scholarship funds distributed under the program
2shall be paid to the eligible institution on behalf of the
3scholarship recipient.
4    (i) If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under this
5Section fails to fulfill the service agreement required under
6the program, the Commission shall require the recipient to
7repay the amount of the scholarship or scholarships received,
8prorated according to the fraction of the service agreement
9not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if
10applicable, reasonable collection fees. Payments received by
11the Commission under this Section shall be remitted to the
12State Comptroller for deposit into the General Revenue Fund,
13except that that portion of a recipient's repayment that
14equals the amount in expenses that the Commission has
15reasonably incurred in attempting collection from that
16recipient shall be remitted to the State Comptroller for
17deposit into the ISAC Accounts Receivable Fund.
18    (j) A recipient of a scholarship awarded by the Commission
19under the program shall not be in violation of the agreement
20entered into pursuant to this Article if the recipient is (i)
21serving as a member of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of
22the United States, (ii) a person with a temporary total
23disability, as established by a sworn affidavit of a qualified
24physician, (iii) taking additional courses, on at least a
25half-time basis, related to nursing, or (iv) extenuating and
26specific circumstances in which the recipient is unable to

 

 

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1achieve full-time employment as a nurse with the Department
2and is able to provide evidence of that fact, subject to review
3by the Commission. Any extension of the period during which
4the service requirement must be fulfilled shall be subject to
5limitations of duration established by the Commission and with
6the guidance and assistance of the Department.
7    (k) The Commission and the Department shall ensure
8compliance with all applicable State and federal laws. This
9Section does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender,
10religion, sex, color, national origin, ancestry, or any other
11protected class or characteristics.
12    (l) In providing guidance and assistance to the
13Commission, the Department may collaborate with accredited
14State nursing schools to facilitate the scholarship program.
15Eligible institutions are encouraged to support and promote
16the program among their nursing students.
17    (m) The Department, in consultation with the Commission,
18shall provide an annual report on the program's effectiveness,
19including the number of recipients, their service periods, and
20any challenges faced.
21    (n) The funding for the program shall be subject to
22appropriation. Additional contributions from private entities,
23philanthropic organizations, or federal grants may supplement
24the scholarship.
25    (o) The Commission shall administer the grant program
26established by this Section and shall make all necessary and

 

 

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1proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its
2effective implementation with the guidance and assistance of
3the Department.
 
4    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
52025.